Protective armor.



S. M. ALMENGUAL,

PROTECTIVE ARMOR. AIPPLICATIQN man APR. 18. 1917.

1 ,236,034. Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

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SALVADOR MONTES ALMENGUAL, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROTECTIVE ARMOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

Application filed April 18, 1917. Serial No. 162,926.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SALVADOR MoNTEs ALnicNoUAL, a citizen of the Kingdom of Spain, and residing in the city of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered new andv useful Improvements in Protective Armor, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in certain new and useful improvements in chain armor.

More particularly such improvements comprise, first, a new and improved form of chain mat for armor purposes, and, second, in means for resiliently supporting the same spaced away from the surface or object to be protected.

The object in view is the provision of a cheap, light weight armor which may be quickly manufactured and mounted in place, and which may be easily removed or repaired when necessary.

In the accompanying drawings, which are merely intended to illustrate the principles of my invention without limiting the scope thereof to the construction shown, Figure 1 is a broken end view showing my improved chain mat used as an impact skin and supported and spaced away from the surface to be protected by means of spring elements; Fig. 2 an outer face view showing the construetion of the form of mat illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end view and Figet an outer face view of a modified form of the chain mat; Fig. shows a mat formed of a plurality of layers; Fig. 6 is a face view showing a mat formed according to my invention of a plurality of elongated chain links, and Fig. 7 is an end view showing a multiple form of my armor formed of a plurality of chain mats spaced apart and from the surface to be protected by supporting springs.

The following is a detailed description of the drawings, reference being first had to Figs. 1 and A represents the supporting surface or foundation of the armor. The same may be a portion or element of the object to be protected, as a ship's hull plate, or it may be a base or support attached in. any convenient way to the object to be protected. lVhere the surface to be protected is irregular in contour the foundation A may be flexible to conform to said surface, thus giving the outer or impact skin of the armor a corresponding contour. Again, where the armor is to be used for the protection of the body of a human being or of an animal, the foundation A may be of leather or heavy textile material, so that the armor may be put on or taken off as a garment.

B represents a plurality of chain links made of twisted wire, rod or bar, bent to form multiple end loops 1 and intermediate cross loops 2 interposed between the end loops. Said links are assembled together in the staggered relationship better shown in Fig. 2 and snugly strung together on connecting chains or cable 3, the cables being strung through the bores of the loops 1, as shown.

Thus I may quickly form an assembled mat of great strength and flexibility and of any desired area, at much less expense and labor than would be required to manufacture a chain mat of interwoven links.

I show the outer impact skin, formed of the assembled links, spaced away from the surface A by means of supporting springs C which are preferably of frusto-conical type and which are'connected both to the foundation A and the chain mat by rings or other attachments 4.

Said supporting springs are provided at regular intervals dictated by the use to which the armor is to be put, so as to resiliently support the outer skin and prevent its being driven back by impact against the surface A.

The gages of material of which the chain links and the supporting springs are made vary with the purposes for which the armor is intended. Thus where small arm fire is to be repelled, the links and springs will be made of lighter material than in the case where heav'y projectile are to be repulsed. The springs should be close enough together and of suflicient strength and resiliency to properly support the mat and distribute the force of impact throughout large area of the latter. However, I prefer to increase the number of the supporting springs rather than enlarge the gage of the material in mat and springs, as by the former method the proper strength is obtained without danger of sacrificing resiliency.

In Fig. 3 I show the mat formed of chain elements B each comprising a pair of links or rings 5 connected together by means of small rings or loops 6. Said elements are then strung together in staggered relationship on cables 3, chains 6 or helical spring member 7.

In Fig. 5 I show a multiple layer mat formed of the chainelements B strung on cables 3-and the layers connected together at intervals by means of links 8.

In Fig. 6 I show the mat assembled of.

apart and from the surface to be protected by means of supporting springs C.

This last form of armor has decided advantages where heavy projectiles or explosive shells are to be repelled, as a maximum of resiliency is obtained and the force of impact is distributed over a larger area and thus more easily assumed. Again, where the projectile is broken by the outer skin or'the shell explodes, the inner skin prevents the small fragments from penetrating into the surface A. V I

In Fig. 7 I also show an outer sheathing or plating D which may be attached to'the outer face of the chain mat where the armor is under Water, as on a war ship, to reduce the resistance of the armorto travel through the water and also to protect the armor from the action of the water. 7

It is well known that the impact of a projectile against a solid, stubbornly resisting plate generates heat which melts the plate and permits penetration. In the case of my improved armor, the resistance to the impact is yielding and the force of the blow is distributed over a relatively large area. Thus no melting heat is generated.

My improved armor is inexpensive to manufacture and the elements thereof may be quickly manufactured and assembled. Its weight is slight compared to that'of plate armor, and it may bemuch more readily put on, taken off or repaired. My improved form of chain mat may also be used for purposes for which chain mat are used, as for instance the guarding of harbors and shipping against submarine attack.

WVhatIdesire to claim is I 1. A' chain matfor the purposes set forth comprising a plurality of individual links, and flexible connecting elements upon which said links are strung together, substantially as described. v I

2. A chain mat for the purposes set forth comprising'a plurality of individual links assembled together in staggered relationship, and flexible connecting elements upon r which said links are strung togetherto form the mat, substantially as described.

Copies of this-pat ent may he ob tainedfor 3. A chain mat for the purposes described l comprising a plurality of link elements of.

elongatedv character assembled together in staggered relationship, and flexible connecting elements upon which said links are strung to form the mat, substantiallyas described,

l. A resilient armor structure. comprising a plurality of individual links and'flexible connecting elements upon which said links are strung to form a flexible mat, and sup- ;porting springs interposed at intervals between said mat and the'surface to be protected whereby said mat is resiliently spaced from said surface, substantially as described.

A resilient armor structure comprising a plurality of individual links assembled together in staggered relationship and flexible connecting elements upon which said links are strung to form a fiexiblemat, and supporting springs interposed at intervals be relationship and flexible connecting elements upon which said links are strung tosubstantially as degether to form a flexible mat,-and supporting springs interposed at intervals between said mat and the surface to be protected whereby said mat is resiliently spaced from said surface, substantially as described.

7. A resilient armor structure comprising a plurality of flexible mats each formed of assembled together, the connecting elements "of'each mat being disposed at an angle to the corresponding elements of the adjacent mats, and supporting springs interposed between the 'mats and between the innermost mat and the surface to be protected, substantially as described. L

gered relationship and flexible connecting elements upon which saidlinks are strung and assembled together, the'co'nnecting elements of each mat being disposed at an angle to the corresponding elements'oof the adjacent mats, and supporting springs in-' terposed between the mats and betweenthe innermost mat and the surface to be protected substantially as described.

individual links and flexible connecting ele- 'ments upon WlllCll, said links are strung and Signed at Pittsburgh, Pen na., this 17th day of April, 1917.

SALVADOR MONTES ALMENGUAL.

five.cents"each by addressingthe Commissioner-of Pat ents, washingtjomhfl. f J 

